mistress

be (one's) own master

To not be subject to or controlled by others, especially at work or at home. I have to be my own master, so I couldn't work in a big company like you and have to answer to a boss.
See also: master, own

be (one's) own mistress

Of a woman, to not be subject to or controlled by others, especially at work or at home. I have to be my own mistress, so I couldn't work in a big company like you and have to answer to a boss.
See also: mistress, own
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be your own ˈmaster/ˈmistress

be free to make your own decisions rather than being told what to do by somebody else: There’s no point trying to tell him what to do. He’s his own master, as you know.
See also: master, mistress, own
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • be your own master/mistress
  • be (one's) own master
  • be (one's) own mistress
  • go shares
  • it will never fly
  • It'll never fly
  • be at work
  • I've got work to do
  • off
  • offed
References in classic literature
But this time our Gascon saw at a glance all the advantage to be derived from the love which Kitty had just confessed so innocently, or so boldly: the interception of letters addressed to the Comte de Wardes, news on the spot, entrance at all hours into Kitty's chamber, which was contiguous to her mistress's.
"Are you willing that I should this evening pass with you the time I generally spend with your mistress?"
"Good God," cried Kitty, "there is my mistress calling me!
Three Musketeers
"The Maid said to the Mistress. No--the Mistress said to the Maid--" He stopped abruptly, and raised himself erect in the chair; he threw up both his hands above his head, and burst into a frightful screaming laugh.
Law and the Lady
About that time (which was before master came home again) the bell rang hard from the bedroom, and my mistress ran out into the landing, and called to me to go for Mr.
"Lady Glyde was just as usual," says my mistress to him at the door; "she was awake, and looking about her in a strange, forlorn manner, when I heard her give a sort of half cry, and she fainted in a moment." The doctor went up to the bed, and stooped down over the sick lady.
I was afraid it would happen suddenly when I examined her heart yesterday." My mistress stepped back from the bedside while he was speaking, and trembled and trembled again.
The Woman in White
"Did your mistress refuse to give you a character?" she asked.
Louisa dropped on her knees and hid her face in her mistress's lap.
My mistress was hard on me, and my health broke down in trying to live by my needle.
No Name
Mistress Affery negatived each with a shake of her head.
Mistress Affery looked on at Little Dorrit taking off her homely bonnet in the hall, and at Mr Flintwinch scraping his jaws and contemplating her in silence, as expecting some wonderful consequence to ensue which would frighten her out of her five wits or blow them all three to pieces.
Mistress Affery went down to let him in, and he said on entering,
Little Dorrit
“Life is as unsartain as the wind that blows,” said Benjamin, with a moralizing air; “and nothing is more varible than the wind, Mistress Remarkable, unless you hap pen to fall in with the trades, d’ye see, and then you may run for the matter of a month at a time, with studding-sails on both sides, alow and aloft, and with the cabin-boy at the wheel.”
I began forrard, Mistress Prettybones, and worked my way aft, like a man.
Pioneers